Ceciel T. Rooker, President of IFFGD

Ceciel T. Rooker has led the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) since 2017. With a deep passion for patient advocacy and health equity, she works to bring the voices of those affected by GI disorders into national and global conversations. Under her leadership, IFFGD has expanded its research funding, patient engagement, and policy impact.

She collaborates closely with healthcare professionals, researchers, government agencies, and nonprofit coalitions to advance knowledge, influence policy, and improve care for individuals living with chronic GI conditions.

🌟Meet the President of IFFGD | Ceciel T. Rooker

President and Executive Director, IFFGD
Advocate. Leader. Champion for Digestive Health.

To learn more about Ms. Rooker, read her story here.

Current Leadership and Professional Engagements

Ms. Rooker provides the patient voice by serving on many professional societies.

• President and Executive Director, IFFGD (2017–Present)
• Treasurer, Digestive Disease National Coalition (2025–Present)
• Member, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence – Transforming Gut Health (2025–Present)
• Member, NCCIH Coalition for Whole Person Health (2024–Present)
• Member, COSMID Research Study (2019–Present)
• Member, American College of Gastroenterology (2019–Present)
• Member, American Gastroenterological Association (2019–Present)
• Member, PRO Consortium, IBS Working Group – Critical Path Institute (2018–Present)
• Member, American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (2017–Present)
• Member, Digestive Disease National Coalition (2017–Present)

Previous Leadership & Advisory Roles

Through 2024 and earlier

• Council Member, NIH NIDDK Advisory Council (2020–2024)

• Advisory Member, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Digestive Health (2021–2024)

• FDA Patient Engagement Collaborative (2023–2024)

• Steering Committee & Member, OnexOne GI Summit (2019–2024)

• Chairman of the Board, DDNC (2020–2022)

• Nominating Committee Member, DDNC (2020–2024)

• Member-at-Large, DDNC Executive Committee (2018–2019, 2023–2024)

• Strategic Plan Working Group, NIH NIDDK (2019–2021)

• Advisor, Fecal Incontinence in Primary Care Consortium (2017)

📚 Select Publications:

View M. Rooker’s contributions to peer-reviewed journals and public health initiatives

2025

• Update to SAGES Guidelines for the Use of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) in the Treatment of Achalasia – Surg Endosc, 2025
  Calabrese EC, Kindel T, Slater BJ, Marks J, Swanstrom L, Saxena P, Docimo S, Athanasiadis DI, Hanna NM, Stefanidis D, Rooker C, Maddern G, Kohn GP. 2024 Update to SAGES guidelines for the use of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) in the treatment of achalasia. Surg Endosc. 2025 May 21. doi: 10.1007/s00464-025-11789-z. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40399617
• Names Matter: A Call to Neurogastroenterologists to Examine How We Can Improve the Nomenclature We Use to Describe the Disorders Our Patients Experience – Gastroenterology, 2025
  Pasricha PJ, Talley NJ, Nguyen L, Abell T, Furness J; International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders; Pimentel M. Names Matter: A Call to Neurogastroenterologists to Examine How We Can Improve the Nomenclature We Use to Describe the Disorders Our Patients Experience. Gastroenterology. 2025 Feb 1:S0016-5085(25)00338-5. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.12.040. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39900305.

• Management of Refractory Reflux-Like Symptoms- Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2025
  Armstrong D, Hungin AP, Kahrilas PJ, Sifrim D, Moayyedi P, Vaezi MF, Al-Awadhi S, Anvari S, Bell R, Delaney B, Emura F, Gyawali CP, Katelaris P, Lazarescu A, Lee YY, Repici A, Roman S, Rooker CT, Savarino EV, Sinclair P, Sugano K, Yadlapati R, Yuan Y, Zerbib F, Sharma P; International Working Group for the Classification of Oesophagitis (IWGCO). Management of Patients With Refractory Reflux-Like Symptoms Despite Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy: Evidence-Based Consensus Statements. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2025 Feb;61(4):636-650. doi: 10.1111/apt.18420. Epub 2024 Dec 30. PMID: 39740235 

2024

• Nationwide Survey on IBS and CIC Patients – Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024
  – Lacy BE, Xu Y, Taylor DCA, Kosch KJ, Dobrescu R, Morlock A, Morlock R, Rooker C. Burden of illness and treatment attitudes among participants meeting Rome IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide survey in the United States. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024 Nov;36(11):e14903. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14903. Epub 2024 Sep 2. PMID: 39223955
  – Lacy BE, Xu Y, Taylor DCA, Kosch KJ, Dobrescu R, Morlock A, Morlock R, Rooker C. Treatment for chronic idiopathic constipation: Use and satisfaction from a nationwide survey of US participants. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2024 Oct;36(10):e14885. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14885. Epub 2024 Aug 18. PMID: 39155456

• Plain Language Summary of Long-Term Tenapanor Safety
  Lembo AJ, Edelstein S, Rosenbaum DP, Rooker C, Roberts JD, Chey WD. Long-term safety of tenapanor in people with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation from the T3MPO-3 study: plain language summary of publication. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2024 Apr 9:17:17562848241237196. eCollection 2024. PMID: 38601815

2022

• Grateful Patient Fundraising and Bias- Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, 2022
  Rooker C, Sutton A. ‘Grateful Patient Fundraising and the Unconscious Bias’ Narrative Inquiry in Biotethics, Volume 12.1 (2022) pp. 41-46, by John Hopkins University Press. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35912607/

2021

• Resources for Gastroparesis Patients – Academic Press, 2021
  Rooker C, Haston C, Smith S, Lombardi M, DeGrazia-DiTucci M, VanHouten M. ‘Resources for the Gastroparesis Patient’, in McCallum RW, Parkman HP, Gastroparesis, Academic Press, 2021 pp. 539-552, ISBN 9780128185865 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128185865000417

2020 and earlier

• Symptoms of COVID-19 May Involve Your GI System. Future of Personal Health
  Mediaplanet, Rooker C. Symptoms of COVID-19 May Involve Your GI System. Future of Personal Health, Digestive Health and Wellness. https://www.futureofpersonalhealth.com/digestive-wellness/symptoms-of-covid-19-may-involve-your-gi-system/ 
• Five Signs It’s More Than Acid Reflux or Heartburn
  Mediaplanet, Rooker C. Five Signs It’s More Than Acid Reflux or Heartburn. Future of Personal Health, Digestive Health and Wellness. https://www.futureofpersonalhealth.com/digestive-wellness/5-signs-its-more-than-acid-reflux-or-heartburn/
• Narcotic Bowel Syndrome: Characterization of 30 Patients
  Drossman DA, Morris CB, Davis CE, Weinland SR, Aderoju AO, Kulkani-Kelapure RR, Hu YB, Houpe ME, Zimmerman Y, Rooker C, Bangdiwala SI. Narcotic Bowel Syndrome: Characterization of 30 patients and preliminary results after detoxification. Gastroenterol, 140(5), Suppl 1: S-465, 2011.
• Diagnosis and Outcome of 39 Patients with Narcotic Bowel Syndrome
  Drossman DA, Morris CB, Wrennall CED, Weinland SR, Aderoju AO, Kulkarni-Kelapure RR, Hu YJ, Dalton C, Bouma MH, Zimmerman J, Rooker C, Leserman J, Bangdiwala SI. Diagnosis, Characterization, and 3 Month Outcome of 39 Patients with Narcotic Bowel Syndrome. AM J GASTRO, Advance Online Publication June 19, 2012. http://www.nature.com/ajg/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ajg2012142a.html

Presentations:

Ceciel regularly contributes to national and international GI health conferences such as DDW and ACG. Topics include:

• Treatment Satisfaction and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
  Katherine J. Kosch, RPh, Xiaolan Ye, PhD, Yanqing Xu, PhD, Gina McKnight-Smith, PharmD, MBA, MS, Masakazu Ando, PhD, Rachel Dobrescu, BA, Amy Morlock, MA, Robert Morlock, PhD, Ceciel Rooker, BS, Brian Lacy, MD, PhD, FACG. Treatment Satisfaction and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation. Sunday, October 22, 2023. P0521.

• Disease Burden and Care-Seeking Behavior of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation (IBS-C) in the United States
  Brian E. Lacy, Douglas C. Taylor, Yanqing Xu, Katherine J. Kosch, Rachel Dobrescu, Amy Morlock, Robert Morlock, Ceciel Rooker. Disease Burden and Care-Seeking Behavior of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation (IBS-C) in the United States. Sunday, October 23, 2022. A0254. (S567).

• Impact of Abdominal Symptoms in Patients With Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) in the United States
  Brian E. Lacy, Yanqing Xu, Douglas C. Taylor, Katherine J. Kosch, Rachel Dobrescu, Amy Morlock, Robert Morlock, Ceciel Rooker. Impact of Abdominal Symptoms in Patients With Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) in the United States. ACG Poster. Sunday, October 23, 2022. A0252. (S545)

• Chronic Idiopathic Constipation Sufferers and Treatment Satisfaction: Prescription vs. Over-The-Counter Medications
  Lacy B, Xu Q, Taylor S, Morlock A, Morlock R, Rooker C. Chronic Idiopathic Constipation Sufferers and Treatment Satisfaction: Prescription vs. Over-The-Counter Medications. DDW ePoster Library. 05/24/22; 355503; Tu1339

• Symptom Profile, PPI Therapy, and Diagnostic Testing in Patients with Refractory GERD
  Sachin Srinivasan David Armstrong, Ceciel Rooker, Paul Sinclair, Emily Taylor, Prateek Sharma. Symptom Profile, PPI Therapy, and Diagnostic Testing in Patients with Refractory GERD – Results from a Population-Based Survey. DDW ePoster Library. 05/24/22; 355199; Tu1034

• Improving Understanding and Addressing Constipation Dilemmas With “An Animated Patient’s Guide” For Optimal Health Outcomes
  Satish Munigala, Jeanetta Frye, Ceciel Rooker, Emily Taylor, Stephanie Searle, Satish S.C. Rao. Improving Understanding and Addressing Constipation Dilemmas With “An Animated Patient’s Guide” For Optimal Health Outcomes. DDW ePoster Library. 05/24/22; 355506; Tu1342
  
• Undiagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation (IBS-C) And Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC): More Common Than We Thought?
  Lacy B, Xu Q, Taylor S, Morlock A, Morlock R, Rooker C. Undiagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation (IBS-C) And Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC): More Common Than We Thought? DDW ePoster Library. 05/23/22; 353152; Mo1084
  
• Covid-19 Exacerbates Existing Digestive Disorders And Triggers New Digestive Symptoms And Diagnoses: Results From An International Patient Survey
  Barrett-Englert M, Rao A, Chey S, Sutton A, Rooker C, And Chey W. “Covid-19 Exacerbates Existing Digestive Disorders And Triggers New Digestive Symptoms And Diagnoses: Results From An International Patient Survey”. Gastroenterology. 2022 May; 162(7): S-288–S-289. Published online 2022 Jun 16.
  
• Disease Burden and Care-Seeking Behavior for CIC Patients in the United States in the Era of COVID-19
  Lacy B, Taylor D, Morlock A, Morlock R, Rooker C. “Disease Burden and Care-Seeking Behavior for CIC Patients in the United States in the Era of COVID-19” Produced by Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ACG Conference. October 22-27 2021. Las Vegas, Nevada.
  
• Prevalence and Impact of Abdominal Symptoms in Patients with IBS-C
  Lacy B, Parikh M, Taylor D, Bloudek L, Burslem K, Morlock A, Morlock R, Rooker C. “Prevalence and Impact of Abdominal Symptoms in Patients with IBS-C” Produced by Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. October 22-27 2021. Las Vegas, Nevada.